Born in 1903 son of T G Stevens FRCS, he was educated at Cambridge, but without taking an honours degree, and at St Thomas's Hospital, where he was casualty officer and house surgeon; he was also house surgeon at the West London Hospital and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading and resident assista

Born in London 1 November 1903, the second child and only son of Alfred George Chamings, chief officer of the public control department, London County Council, and Bertha Wilson, his wife. He was educated at Westminster School (admitted 27 September 1917, non-resident King's Scholar September 1918,